Learning The Alphabet... Arshi Style! [COMPLETED] - Page 22

He deftly snatched the thaal from her hands to glare down at her. He dumped the large aluminium platter in Hari Prakash's hands, although they were already occupied with his laptop bag.

"Khushi, you should be resting, shouldn't you?"

"Haan, lekin-" (Yes, but-)

"Chhote!" Anjali exclaimed as soon as she notice her brother had finally returned from his meeting. "Achha hua ke tum aagaye. Ab sambhaalo apni biwi ko!" (Chhote! It's good that you are back. Now handle your wife!)

Khushi gaped at her. "Di! Humne aisa bhi kya kiya hai?" (Di! What did I do?)

His sister frowned at her. "Kya kiya hai? Chhote, jab se tum gaye ho, Khushiji poore ghar mein choohe ki tarha daud rahi hain. Koyi aisa karta hai kya? Apni hi god bharaayi ki taiyyaariyan koyi karta hai, kya?" (What did you do? Chhote, since you left, Khushi has been scurrying all around the house like a mouse. Who does that? Who prepares for her own go bharaayi?)

Arnav tilted his head with a stern look at his wife, who pouted cutely at the siblings. "Hum to sirf sabki maddad-" (I was just helping-)

"Poore ghar ko sar pe utha lena help ke barabar nahin hai, Chamkili!" Lavanya sing-songed as she walked past the trio, making Arnav raise his eyebrows. (Lifting the whole household on your head is not same as helping, Chamkili!)

"Yeah! For once, I agree with Lavanyaji!" NK added from his perch on the ladder while he installed the lightwork. "Nannav, mere bhai, Khushiji ko kamre mein mann karlo!" (... Nannav, heart Khushiji in the room!)

"Mann nahin, NK Bhai, band!" Anjali sniggered. (Not heart, NK Bhai, lock!)

Khushi gave her friend a withering look. "Yeh aap achha nahin kar rahe hain, Nanheji! Aur aap Di, aur Lavanyaji, aap bhi!" (This is not fair, Nanheji! And you Di, and Lavanyaji, you too!)

"Hogaya?" Arnav interjected, his arms crossed on his chest. "Ab mere saath upar chalo." (Are you over? Now come with me upstairs.)

"Lekin-" (But-)

Anjali shook her head strictly. "Khushiji, go!"

Obstinate, the girl stared at everyone with pleading eyes which would, however, do nothing to melt her own husband. He sensed her reluctance and carefully scooped her in his arms. She was definitely getting heavier, he had to admit, but he didn't mind the burden of his wife and unborn baby. Arnav placed her on the bed, propping her back with several pillows. Then, he added a fluffy cushion under feet for good measure before shrugging off his jacket and waistcoat.

"Arnavji?" he heard her mumble in a tiny voice.

He refused to look at her but loosened the knot of his tie to remove it too. "What?" he finally said as he retrieved her medicines from the drawer and sat down before her.

"Aap humse naraaz hain?" (Are you angry with me?)

Finally, meeting with her innocently hypnotic eyes he sighed. "Haan, houn." (Yes I am.)

"Sorry."

"Khushi, kitni baar kehna padega hum logon ko?" Arnav gushed out in frustration. "You never understand, do you? You know what can happen if you fall down or something?" (Khushi, how many time should we make you understand?...)

She quickly grabbed his cheeks in her hands. "Humein maaf kardijiye, Arnavji, hum vaada karte hain, ab hum vahin kareinge jo aap kaheinge, bas humse aise mat roothiye!" (I'm sorry, Arnavji, I promise I'll do whatever you tell me, just don't get so angry at me!)

He narrowed his eyes. She always said this, but it seemed the promise kept slipping from her mind. Yet, she was looking so vulnerable and regretful that an unstoppable smile rose to his lips and he turned to kiss her palms.

"I hope so," he drawled, holding on to her hands. "Anyway, aisa hoga bhi nahin kyunki ab se main kissi bhi meeting par nahin jaaounga, until some two months after the baby's born. I'll stay with you. Meetings and all Aman aur Akaash handle kareinge." (...Anyway, that won't happen because from now on, I won't attend any meeting, [...]. Aman and Akaash will handle everything.)

Khushi tried to smile but he noticed the odd expression on her face.

"Khushi? What happened?"

She quietly brought his hand to her huge bump, letting him feel the movements. "Aapko laga?" she whispered. (You felt it?)

Speechless, he simply nodded with a grin before bending over and kissing the spot where their baby had just kicked. "I love you," she heard him say.

"Aur hum?" she pouted as soon as he straightened himself. (And me?)

"Tum?" Arnav raised his eyebrows teasingly. "Come here, I'll show you." (You?...)

And he immediately pressed his lips against hers in a breath-taking kiss.

***

She could still feel her cheeks burn as they walked down the stairs, step by step. Not because of what they had done in the room, just moments ago, but because of the embarrassment she had nearly faced due to her over-protective husband. He had insisted on literally carrying her downstairs, in his arms, in front of so many people. Thankfully Di and Mamiji had come to her rescue or she would be dying of shame.

His hand brushed against her tummy and she felt herself blush again. Everyone's eyes were on them, the husband and his pregnant wife. Khushi certainly was used to constantly having people around her but most of these ones were strangers and for the first time in her life, she felt too conscious. Arnav squeezed her hand, as if understanding and shot a quick smile at her.

Khushi's outfit: http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o573/ShikhaKhushi/843799238590_zps41e7f4c8.jpg

He helped her sit in the chair near Nani and stepped back uncertainly to stand next to Anjali, uncertain of what he should do now. The ceremony started and he watched as the women came up one by one to give her a gift and whisper something in her ear. Khushi smiled and laughed every time, giving him shy glances and Arnav stared back without quite understanding. Even Di, Nani, Mami, Payal, Buaji and her mother had whispered something to her. What was it?

He was still brooding over this very confusing matter when Di spoke.

"Humein pata hai key eh rasam usually women-exclusive hai, lekin Chhote yahaan already hain to hum unhein bhi karne desakte hain, na?" (I know that this ceremony is only for women, but Chhote is already here, so we can let him too, right?)

She gleefully handed her brother a box covered with dark blue velvet, doubtlessly jewellery, and jerked him towards his wife who was blushing and grinning. Arnav felt awkward and dumb. He had no idea of what should be done, so he simply held the box out her before bending to brush his lips against her earshell.

"What am I supposed to tell you?" he asked.

Khushi didn't answer but smacked him on the shoulder, giggling, her eyes overflowing with mirth. The others looked at her, surely hoping she would tell them about his stupidity, but she shook her head silently and he headed back near his sister, feeling himself redden.

***

"By the way," Arnav started rather shamefully while he placed a cushion beneath her tummy for their baby. "What was the whispering about?"

Khushi smirked at the memory and waited for him to get in bed too so that she could pull at his cheek fondly. "Aapko pata hai aap uss vakt kitne pyaare lag rahe the?" (Do have any idea of how cute you were looking?)

"Pyaare, my foot!" he grumbled with a discomfited frown. "Main kitna uncomfortable feel kar rah atha, you know that?" (Cute, my foot! You know how uncomfortable I was feeling?)

"Sab log humaare bacche ke liye dua maang rahe the," she explained placing her palm against his cheek even as he flung his arm around her waist. (Everyone was well-wishing our baby.)

"Really? And what did they say?"

"Yehi, ke bhagwan humaare bacche ko sundar, susheel, mehnati aur chatur banaayein, aisi baatein..." (That, god-willing, aur baby will be beautiful, nice, hard-working and intelligent, things like that...)

Arnav stared neutrally at her for a moment before he burst out laughing. "I was so stupid!"

She pouted and shook her head. "Aap bohot cute the, Arnavji!" (You were cute Arnavji!)

Khushi was herself looking so cute that he felt himself soften. "Think so?"

"Bilkul!" she grinned, nudging his nose with his. Her husband instantly drew her closer to steal another of those searing kisses from her. (Absolutely!)